Housing element having an integrated heat exchanger

ABSTRACT

A device is provided, in particular an oil sump, for an engine and/or a transmission arrangement. The device includes a housing element for the formation of a side wall structure and for holding an operating fluid and a heat exchanger for heat exchange with the operating fluid, the heat exchanger configured to be supplied with temperature control fluid and having a heat exchange element. The heat exchange element forms at least one through-flow duct for the through flow of the operating fluid and at least one through-flow duct for the through flow of the temperature control fluid.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a housing element for an operatingfluid, in particular oil, having an integrated heat exchanger.

BACKGROUND

Particularly in the case of modern engines, oil (engine/lubricating oil)is subject to high stress from extremely high temperatures, somethingthat applies especially to “equipment-driving engines”, which runcontinuously at maximum power. For economic reasons, the oil isgenerally cooled by means of standard coolers. Insofar as they areembodied in a conventional size, standard coolers are limited in termsof cooling capacity. That is to say that the oil temperature can bereduced to only a limited extent. As a result, the life of the oil isreduced. A second standard cooler or a higher-capacity cooler isgenerally undesirable for economic or design reasons. DE 31 42 327 A1has already disclosed an oil sump for a combustion engine having aninner shell and an outer shell, between which a coolant for thecombustion engine flows.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an improved and/oralternative device for holding an operating fluid, the device comprisinga heat exchanger.

This object can be achieved by means of the features of the main claim.Advantageous developments of the present disclosure can be found in thedependent claims and the following description of preferred embodimentsof the present disclosure.

The present disclosure provides a device, in particular an oil sump,preferably for an engine (e.g. an internal combustion engine or onequipment-driving engine), a piston machine and/or a transmissionarrangement. The device comprises a housing element for the formation ofa side wall structure and for holding an operating fluid (e.g. oil,especially engine and/or lubricating oil) and a heat exchanger for heatexchange with the operating fluid, the heat exchanger being suppliablewith temperature control fluid (e.g. water) and having a heat exchangeelement.

The device is characterized especially in that the heat exchange elementforms at least one through-flow duct, expediently at the top, for thethrough flow of the operating fluid and at least one through-flow duct,expediently at the bottom, for the through flow of the temperaturecontrol fluid. The heat exchange element is thereby expedientlyintegrated into the housing element, thus making possible additionaltemperature control of the operating fluid in an advantageous manner interms of cost and/or space.

It is possible for the heat exchange element to form part of the housingelement, preferably a bottom part, with the result, in particular, thatthe heat exchange element and the housing element are formed by one andthe same component. Consequently, the heat exchange element and thehousing element are preferably not mounted one upon the other but form aone-piece integral component. The housing element itself thusexpediently forms the heat exchange element.

It is possible for the heat exchange element to comprise a plurality ofthrough-flow ducts for the operating fluid and/or a plurality ofthrough-flow ducts for the temperature control fluid.

The heat exchange element preferably comprises a wave and/or up-and-downstructure, with the result that, on the one hand, the at least onethrough-flow duct for the operating fluid is formed, expediently towardsthe top, and/or, on the other hand, the at least one through-flow ductfor the temperature control fluid is formed, expediently towards thebottom. The up-and-down structure can be wave-shaped, expediently withrounded portions, or substantially rectangular, trapeziform, zigzagshaped etc., for example. It is possible for the cross section of the atleast one through-flow duct for the operating fluid and/or the crosssection of the at least one through-flow duct for the temperaturecontrol fluid to be of substantially U-shaped, substantially rectangularor substantially trapeziform configuration, for example.

The through-flow ducts for the operating fluid preferably extendadjacent and parallel to the through-flow ducts for the temperaturecontrol fluid. As an alternative or in addition, the through-flow ductsfor the operating fluid and the through-flow ducts for the temperaturecontrol fluid can overlap (e.g. alternately), expediently laterally,with the result, in particular, that a multiplicity of sandwichstructures comprising through-flow ducts for operating fluid andthrough-flow ducts for temperature control fluid can be formed.

It is possible for at least one opening, expediently at least one loweropening, via which operating fluid can be fed to the at least onethrough-flow duct for the operating fluid, to be formed within thehousing element. An opening preferably serves to feed operating fluid toa plurality of through-flow ducts for operating fluid.

A bottom element is preferably arranged within the housing element, inparticular above the heat exchange element. The bottom element isexpediently arranged between the side wall structure and is preferablymounted or cast onto the side wall structure.

It is possible for the bottom element to at least partially span the atleast one through-flow duct for the operating fluid. Here, the bottomelement can be in contact with the heat exchange element or extend at adistance therefrom. As an alternative or in addition, the bottom elementcan remain spaced apart at the end from the housing element, inparticular the side wall structure, thereby forming the at least oneopening. It is likewise possible for the at least one opening to bemachined into the bottom element. The at least one opening can bedesigned as a hole, slotted hole, aperture etc., for example.

The bottom element thus preferably serves for the partial separation andpartial formation of an operating fluid passage between the uppersection of the housing element and the heat exchange element.

The bottom element can be mounted, e.g. movably, expediently slidably,within the housing element, making it possible to close the at least oneopening and/or to form a bypass opening by moving, expediently sliding,the bottom element, preferably in such a way that operating fluid can bedischarged expediently from the housing element or more generally thedevice while bypassing the at least one through-flow duct for theoperating fluid. Accordingly, if the bottom element is moved,expediently slid, it is thereby possible, on the one hand, to close theat least one opening and, on the other hand, to produce the bypassopening at the same time. It is thereby possible to enable a temperaturecontrol capacity for the engine, the piston machine and/or thetransmission arrangement that is dependent on the operating point. Ifthe engine is running at a partial load point, for example, it will bepossible to dispense with the extra temperature control capacity of theheat exchanger and to discharge the temperature control fluid via thebypass, thereby allowing the temperature control capacity to be reduced.

It is possible for the heat exchanger to have a bottom closure elementand preferably for the heat exchange element to extend between thebottom closure element and the bottom element. It follows from this thatthe heat exchanger is formed by parts, expediently by at least three,preferably substantially horizontally aligned parts extending one abovethe other, namely the bottom element, the heat exchange element and thebottom closure element.

It should be mentioned that the bottom element and/or the bottom closureelement is/are preferably made substantially flat and/or plate-shaped.

It is possible for the bottom element and/or the bottom closure elementto be cast or mounted onto the housing element, e.g. adhesively bonded,welded etc., the former expediently on the inside and the latterexpediently on the outside.

The housing element can be an aluminium and/or a cast housing element,for example.

The housing element is preferably embodied in the form of a trough.

The temperature control fluid can be used to cool or heat the operatingfluid.

The at least one through-flow duct for the operating fluid and/or the atleast one through-flow duct for the temperature control fluid preferablyextends in the form of a tube or a channel.

The present disclosure also comprises an engine, in particular a vehicleengine (e.g. motor vehicle engine, marine engine, bus or heavy goodsvehicle engine etc.) or equipment-driving engine, transmissionarrangement or a piston machine having a device as disclosed herein.

The present disclosure likewise comprises a commercial vehicle, e.g. aheavy goods vehicle or bus, having an engine, a piston machine and/or atransmission arrangement provided with a device as disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-described preferred embodiments and features of the presentdisclosure can be combined with one another. Other advantageousdevelopments of the present disclosure are disclosed in the dependentclaims or will become apparent from the following description ofpreferred embodiments of the present disclosure in conjunction with theattached figures.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective sectioned view of a device according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure,

FIG. 2 shows another perspective sectioned view of the device in FIG. 1,and

FIG. 3 shows a sectioned view of the device in FIGS. 1 and 2, inparticular with an explanation of the operation thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective sectioned view of a device V, namely an oilsump, for an engine (not shown), a piston machine (not shown) and/or atransmission arrangement (not shown).

The oil sump comprises a housing element 1 for the formation of a sidewall structure 1.1 and for holding an operating fluid, in particularoil, and a heat exchanger 2. The heat exchanger 2 can be supplied withtemperature control fluid (e.g. water) and comprises a heat exchangeelement 1.2, by means of which heat exchange between the oil and thewater can be achieved.

The heat exchange element 1.2 comprises a plurality of through-flowducts B, through which oil flows during operation, and a plurality ofthrough-flow ducts T, through which water flows during operation. Theoil can be drawn in by the engine or an oil pump, for example, duringoperation.

The heat exchange element 1.2 forms a (bottom) part of the housingelement 1, with the result that the heat exchange element 1.2 and thehousing element 1 are formed by one and the same component. The oil sumpand, in particular, the housing element 1 are thus provided with anintegrated heat exchanger 2.

The heat exchange element 1.2 comprises an up-and-down structure, inparticular a wave shape (e.g. rounded, rectangular, trapeziform etc.),thereby forming the through-flow ducts B for the oil on the upper sidethereof and the through-flow ducts T for the water on the lower sidethereof. The up-and-down structure results in an enlargement of thesurface area, greatly increasing the effectiveness of the heat exchanger2.

The through-flow ducts B for the oil extend parallel to the through-flowducts T for the water and are arranged adjacent thereto. Thethrough-flow ducts T for the water and the through-flow ducts B for theoil overlap alternatively, forming a multiplicity of sandwichstructures.

Formed within the housing element 1 is an opening 1.3, expediently inthe form of a slotted hole, via which oil can be fed to the through-flowducts B for the oil.

A plate-shaped bottom element 3 is furthermore arranged within thehousing element 1. The bottom element 3 spans the through-flow ducts Btowards the top and is spaced apart at the end from the housing element1, thereby forming the opening 1.3. The bottom element 3 can expedientlycome into contact with the oil on the upper side and the lower side.

The heat exchanger 2 comprises a plate-shaped bottom closure element 4,with the result that the heat exchange element 1.2 is arranged betweenthe bottom closure element 4 and the bottom element 3. The heatexchanger 2 is thus expediently formed by a 3-plate structure, namelythe bottom element 3, the wave-shaped heat exchange element 1.2 and thebottom closure element 4.

The bottom element 3 and the bottom closure element 4 are expedientlymounted on the housing element 1.

Reference sign 5 designates a water outlet, via which water can bedischarged from the device V or heat exchanger 2.

FIG. 2 shows another perspective sectioned view of the device V fromFIG. 1.

In this, reference sign 6 indicates a water inlet, via which water canbe introduced into the device V or heat exchanger 2, while referencesign 7 indicates an oil outlet, via which oil can be discharged from thehousing element 1 or heat exchanger 2.

FIG. 3 shows a sectioned view of the device V in FIGS. 1 and 2 withcaptions relating to the operation thereof.

From FIG. 3, it can be seen that oil is being passed throughthrough-flow ducts B so as to cool down from right to left in FIG. 3,while water is being passed through through-flow ducts T so as to heatup from left to right in FIG. 3.

It is possible for the bottom element 3 to be mounted in a fixed mannerwithin the housing element 1. As an alternative, however, it is possiblefor the bottom element 3 expediently to be arranged in the housingelement 1 in such a way that it can be slid substantially horizontally.If the bottom element 3 is embodied in such a way as to be slidable, itis possible, on the one hand, for the opening 1.3 to be closed and, onthe other hand, for a bypass opening 8 indicated schematically in FIG. 3simultaneously to be produced by the sliding thereof, allowing oil to bedischarged while bypassing through-flow ducts B. It is thereby possibleto reduce the heat exchanger capacity. The cooling capacity can therebybe adapted according to the engine operating point. If the engine isrunning at the partial load points, for example, it would be possible todispense with heat exchanger cooling, and the water could be dischargedthrough the bypass opening 8.

The present disclosure is not restricted to the preferred embodimentsdescribed above. On the contrary, a large number of variants andmodifications is possible that likewise make use of the concept of thepresent disclosure and therefore fall within the scope of protection.Moreover, the present disclosure also claims protection for the subjectmatter and features of the dependent claims independently of thefeatures and claims to which they refer.

1. A device for an engine, a piston machine and/or a transmissionarrangement, comprising: a housing element for the formation of a sidewall structure and for holding an operating fluid; and a heat exchangerconfigured to exchange heat with the operating fluid, the heat exchangerconfigured to be supplied with temperature control fluid and having aheat exchange element that forms at least one through-flow duct for thethrough flow of the operating fluid and at least one through-flow ductfor the through flow of the temperature control fluid.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the heat exchange element is part of thehousing element, with the result that the heat exchange element and thehousing element are formed by one and the same component.
 3. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the heat exchange element comprises aplurality of through-flow ducts for the operating fluid and a pluralityof through-flow ducts for the temperature control fluid.
 4. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the heat exchange element comprises a waveor up-and-down structure, with the result that the at least onethrough-flow duct for the operating fluid and the at least onethrough-flow duct for the temperature control fluid are formed.
 5. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the through-flow ducts for theoperating fluid extend adjacent and parallel to the through-flow ductsfor the temperature control fluid.
 6. The device according to claim 1,wherein the through-flow ducts for the operating fluid and thethrough-flow ducts for the temperature control fluid overlapalternately.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least oneopening via which the operating fluid can be fed to the at least onethrough-flow duct for the operating fluid, is formed within the housingelement.
 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein a bottom element isarranged above the heat exchange element, between the side wallstructure, within the housing element.
 9. The device according to claim8, wherein the bottom element at least partially spans the at least onethrough-flow duct for the operating fluid.
 10. The device according toclaim 8, wherein the bottom element is spaced apart at the end from thehousing element in order to form the at least one opening.
 11. Thedevice according to claim 8, wherein the at least one opening is formedin the bottom element.
 12. The device according to claim 8, wherein thebottom element is movable in order to close the at least one openingand/or in order to form a bypass opening, such that operating fluid canbe discharged while bypassing the at least one through-flow duct for theoperating fluid.
 13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the heatexchanger has a bottom closure element and the heat exchange elementextends between the bottom closure element and the bottom element. 14.The device according to claim 8, wherein the bottom element is cast ormounted onto the housing element.
 15. An engine comprising: a devicecomprising: a housing element for the formation of a side wall structureand for holding an operating fluid, and a heat exchanger configured toexchange heat with the operating fluid, the heat exchanger configured tobe supplied with temperature control fluid and having a heat exchangeelement that forms at least one through-flow duct for the through flowof the operating fluid and at least one through-flow duct for thethrough flow of the temperature control fluid.
 16. A commercial vehiclecomprising: an engine including a device comprising: a housing elementfor the formation of a side wall structure and for holding an operatingfluid, and a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with theoperating fluid, the heat exchanger configured to be supplied withtemperature control fluid and having a heat exchange element that formsat least one through-flow duct for the through flow of the operatingfluid and at least one through-flow duct for the through flow of thetemperature control fluid.